United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of 7 Emirates (princely states) including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al Khaima, Umm al Qawain, Fujaira and Ajman. There is a large expatriate community in the UAE but of the UAE nationals the majority are Sunni Muslims and a minority are Shia Muslims. The 1971 Constitution made permanent in 1996 reads in Article 7 that Islam is the State religion and that Islamic law is a principal source of legislation.
The personal status law applied in the UAE is uncodified Islamic law. Therefore, classical law is applied according to whether the father is a Sunni or Shia Muslim and to which school of law has the most influence. The dominant school Islamic jurisprudence varies within each of the Emirates. In Dubai Maliki is the dominant school of jurisprudence, whereas Hanbali principles have the most influence in the majority of the other Emirates.
There is no restriction on foreign nationals making an application to a Sharia Court but a UAE national must be engaged to represent the applicant in court.